The Pyrexia transient receptor potential channel mediates circadian clock synchronization to low temperature cycles in Drosophila melanogaster

Circadian clocks are endogenous approximately 24 h oscillators that temporally regulate many physiological and behavioural processes. In order to be beneficial for the organism, these clocks must be synchronized with the environmental cycles on a daily basis. Both light : dark and the concomitant daily temperature cycles (TCs) function as Zeitgeber (‘time giver’) and efficiently entrain circadian clocks. The temperature receptors mediating this synchronization have not been identified. Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels function as thermo-receptors in animals, and here we show that the Pyrexia (Pyx) TRP channel mediates temperature synchronization in Drosophila melanogaster. Pyx is expressed in peripheral sensory organs (chordotonal organs), which previously have been implicated in temperature synchronization. Flies deficient for Pyx function fail to synchronize their behaviour to TCs in the lower range (16–20°C), and this deficit can be partially rescued by introducing a wild-type copy of the pyx gene. Synchronization to higher TCs is not affected, demonstrating a specific role for Pyx at lower temperatures. In addition, pyx mutants speed up their clock after being exposed to TCs. Our results identify the first TRP channel involved in temperature synchronization of circadian clocks.     

文冠果新梢发育过程酚类物质及相关酶活性变化特性

以文冠果新梢为试验材料,通过分析文冠果新梢生长发育过程中的茎尖、茎段、叶片的多酚、类黄酮、单宁及相关酶(苯丙氨酸解氨酶、多酚氧化酶)活性,研究了文冠果新梢枝条发育过程中不同部位酚类物质的积累规律及相关酶活性的变化规律。结果显示:(1)文冠果新梢生长期内(4~9月)随着季节的变化,多酚、类黄酮、单宁等酚类物质含量总体上呈现上升趋势,新梢同一时期不同部位的多酚、类黄酮、单宁等酚类物质含量的分布情况相似,皆为:叶茎尖茎段。(2)文冠果不同发育时期的茎叶苯丙氨酸解氨酶活性大小为:新梢幼嫩茎段及相应叶片半木质化茎段及相应叶片木质化茎段及相应叶片;新梢叶片的多酚氧化酶活性显著高于茎段,茎尖的最低;文冠果叶片有着极强的抗氧化能力,对1,1-二苯基-2-三硝基苯肼自由基(DPPH·)的清除率最高可达98.13%。(3)在4月29日前后,文冠果新梢各部位多酚、类黄酮和单宁含量上升趋势有显著差异,各部位苯丙氨酸解氨酶活性最低,而多酚氧化酶活性最高,木质化程度不同的茎段DPPH·清除率均降至最低,表明4月29日是文冠果新梢生长期的一个重要过渡生长阶段。(4)文冠果的新梢多酚、类黄酮、单宁之间呈极显著正相关关系;多酚、类黄酮、单宁与DPPH·清除率存在极显著正相关关系,与多酚氧化酶活性呈显著正相关关系,与苯丙氨酸解氨酶活性之间相关性不显著。研究表明,酚类物质含量是影响文冠果无性繁殖的主要因素,酚类物质含量越低,文冠果的扦插、嫁接、组培的成活率越高;新梢多酚、类黄酮、单宁等酚类物质含量在生长初期最低,后随着新梢的生长呈现显著上升趋势;文冠果无性繁殖最好在新梢生长初期进行,最佳时间为4~5月中旬。     

Innervation patterns of the cerebral nerves in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Haminoea hydatis</Emphasis> (Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia): a test for intraspecific variability

This study describes the innervation patterns for the cerebral nerves which project to the cephalic sensory organs (CSOs) in the opisthobranch Haminoea hydatis (Linnaeus 1758) and uses axonal tracing techniques (backfilling) to reveal the central cellular origins for these cerebral nerves. Cell clusters projecting into the cerebral nerves can be defined by their positions in the ganglion relative to other clusters, nerve roots and lobes. The number of cell clusters and the relative sizes of somata are constant in a given cluster, whereas the absolute number of somata and absolute sizes of single somata in a given cluster increase with the size of the animal. Additionally, the invariable morphological characteristics of the cell clusters are used to define criteria for the assessment of possible homology for the clusters innervating the CSOs in Opisthobranchia. The data suggest two different strategies to accommodate the increasing body size; first, the additions of nerve cells and second, the growth of nerve cells. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Nitric oxide synthase mediates regulation of cell polarity and movement during <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila melanogaster</Emphasis> morphogenesis

The effect of expression of the enzyme producing nitric oxide on Drosophila melanogaster morphogenesis was studied using ectopic expression of a truncated splice form of the enzyme that has a dominant negative effect on the full-length enzyme form. The suppressed enzyme expression was shown to affect the cell polarity and movement as well as the structural pattern of organs during Drosophila development. The effect of nitric oxide production on the intercellular distribution of significant factors of cell polarity, protein products of the Strabismus and Prospero genes, has been revealed.     

The male genitalia of Oxyartes lamellatus - phasmatodeans do have complex phallic organs (Insecta: Phasmatodea)

A detailed study of the exoskeleton and musculature of the phallic organ of Oxyartes lamellatus (Kirby, 1904) (Phasmatodea: Necrosciinae) is here presented - the first study of this kind for Phasmatodea. The asymmetrical phallic organ shows a highly complicated morphology, with several sclerites and many formative structural elements, of which a sclerotised bulb in the ejaculatory duct wall and a long flagellum arising from near it are among the most conspicuous. Four extrinsic and 20 intrinsic phallic muscles were found; many of these are quite compact bundles or sheets, while a few others are diffuse groups of fibres. Phallic morphology in Oxyartes is compared with the literature data on male genitalia in other Phasmatodea, but this is limited by the superficial treatment of phallic organs in the few relevant previous contributions. Yet, phallic organs appear as a useful new character system for phylogenetic reconstruction and species distinction in Phasmatodea. Comparison with phallic organs in other ‘orthopteroid’ insects shows that these organs are too different among orders as to allow for sound homologisation of phallic substructures. Consideration of development of phallic organs does not help in this aspect. There is no evidence of phasmatodean phallic organs being pedomorphic.     

Carbon nanotubes leading the way forward in new generation 3D tissue engineering

Statistics from the NHS Blood and Transplant Annual Review show that total organ transplants have increased to 4213 in 2012, while the number of people waiting to receive an organ rose to 7613 that same year. Human donors as the origin of transplanted organs no longer meet the ever-increasing demand, and so interest has shifted to synthetic organ genesis as a form of supply. This focus has given rise to new generation tissue and organ engineering, in the hope of one day designing 3D organs in vitro. While research in this field has been conducted for several decades, leading to the first synthetic trachea transplant in 2011, scaffold design for optimising complex tissue growth is still underexplored and underdeveloped. This is mostly the result of the complexity required in scaffolds, as they need to mimic the cells’ native extracellular matrix. This is an intricate nanostructured environment that provides cells with physical and chemical stimuli for optimum cell attachment, proliferation and differentiation. Carbon nanotubes are a popular addition to synthetic scaffolds and have already begun to revolutionise regenerative medicine. Discovered in 1991, these are traditionally used in various areas of engineering and technology; however, due to their excellent mechanical, chemical and electrical properties their potential is now being explored in areas of drug delivery, in vivo biosensor application and tissue engineering. The incorporation of CNTs into polymer scaffolds displays a variety of structural and chemical enhancements, some of which include: increased scaffold strength and flexibility, improved biocompatibility, reduction in cancerous cell division, induction of angiogenesis, reduced thrombosis, and manipulation of gene expression in developing cells. Moreover CNTs’ tensile properties open doors for dynamic scaffold design, while their thermal and electrical properties provide opportunities for the development of neural, bone and cardiac tissue constructs.     

Study on Localization of Hemopoietic Tissue in Sturgeon

Morphological and autoradiographic studies on various hemopoietic tissues in sturgeon are presented. The classic hemopoietic organs characteristic of lower vertebrates, such as the kidney and spleen, are studied as well as unique hemopoietic structures described only in the evolutionarily most ancient fish species (hemopoietic tissues of cartilaginous skull capsules and epicardium). The intensity of cell divisions in hemopoietic foci has been characterized by autoradiography. The results obtained provide a basis for the revision of traditional views about the phylogeny of hemopoiesis. They provide evidence that the osteogenic gravitation of hemopoietic tissue shows up in evolution alongside the appearance of the inner skeleton.     

Morphology of the female reproductive organs of the African lion (Panthera leo)

The topography and splanchnology of the reproductive organs of the African lioness were studied and described in situ and after removal. The kidneys were located far caudally in relation to the thirteenth ribs. The suspensory ligament was very well developed, originated in a fan‐like manner from the dorsolateral abdominal wall lateral to the kidney and extended up to a few centimetres cranial to the kidney. The proper ligament of the ovary as well as the round ligament was well developed. The round ligament inserted on the medial femoral fascia. The left ovary was bigger than the right. The ovarian bursa had a short mesosalpinx that did not cover any part of the ovary and the fimbriae extended along the entire length. The urethral tuberculum as well as the urethral crest were well developed. The left uterine horn was longer than the right. The uterine tube was found to open directly into the tip of the uterine horn and not onto a papilla. The reproductive organs of the lioness resembled those of the domestic cat and dog but with some major differences.     

LA系列百合‘Eyeliner’花器官组培快繁技术研究

该试验以LA系列百合‘Eyeliner’花器官为外植体,通过不定芽直接诱导和愈伤组织再分化2种途径,建立了花器官组培快繁技术体系。结果表明:以花器官为外植体污染率接近于0;4种百合花器官诱导从易到难的顺序为花梗、花丝、子房和花柱;花丝易诱导愈伤组织,花梗易诱导不定芽,最适诱导培养基均为MS+1.0mg·L-1 6-BA+0.5mg·L-1 NAA;不定芽增殖最佳培养基为MS+2.0mg·L-1 6-BA+0.2mg·L-1 NAA,愈伤组织分化最佳培养基为MS+1.5mg·L-1 6-BA+0.2mg·L-1 NAA;诱导生根最佳培养基为MS+45g·L-1蔗糖;最佳炼苗方式为将组培苗封口放置在自然环境中3d,然后开口放置在自然环境条件下2d;当试管苗鳞茎大小为3.15cm时,移栽成活率最高;移栽最佳基质为草炭∶蛭石∶珍珠岩=2∶1∶1。     

Eicosanoids: their biosynthesis in accessory sex organs of Lymnaea stagnalis (L.)

Summary

High performance liquid chromatography has been used to identify the eicosanoids produced from radiolabelled arachidonic acid by accessory sex organs of Lymnaea stagnalis. Radiolabelled compounds co-eluting with the primary prostaglandins normally associated with invertebrates were present, together with two eicosanoids known to occur in vertebrates. These results lend support to the suggestion of van Duivenboden (Int. J. Invertebr. Reprod., 6 (1983) 249–257) that prostaglandins (PGs) are involved in accelerating the onset of egg laying in female copulants of this species. The inability of indomethacin and aspirin to completely inhibit PG biosynthesis in L. stagnalis suggests that the PG synthetase of this snail differs from that of mammals and most other invertebrates.